The Pirates begin the second half of the season on Friday trailing front-running Milwaukee by 3½ games in the jam-packed NL Central. Pittsburgh wrapped up the first half by stumbling through a 2-5 road trip through St. Louis and Cincinnati as the bullpen struggled.

Still, second baseman Neil Walker said the Pirates are encouraged as they try to earn a second straight playoff berth.

Pittsburgh slumped through the first six weeks of the season, but has rallied over the past two months despite significant injuries to starting pitchers Francisco Liriano and Gerrit Cole and catcher Russell Martin.

Liriano is just 1-7 in 2014 after winning 16 games last year. but will get the start on Friday when the Pirates host Colorado.

BREWERS: Jean Segura has rejoined the Milwaukee Brewers for the start of a series against the Nationals after returning home following the death of his infant son.

'He will be in Washington,' Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. 'We'll sit down with him tomorrow and just make sure everything is good before we activate him.'

Segura had gone back to the Dominican Republic after his 9-month-old son, Janniel, died. Roenicke said he had not expected the shortstop to return so soon.

'He told me he felt like he needed to do it to take his mind off of it,' Roenicke said. 'He'll be doing something he enjoys.'

RANGERS: The Texas Rangers now have four catchers on their 25-man roster.

The Rangers recalled opening day starting catcher J.P. Arencibia from Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday, the same day they made the expected move of activating catcher Geovany Soto from the 60-day disabled list.

Struggling first baseman Carlos Pena was designated for assignment after playing only 18 games for the Rangers.

Soto and Arencibia joined the team for a workout in Toronto, along with catchers Robinson Chirinos and Chris Gimenez. Texas (38-57), with the worst record in the majors, plays the Blue Jays on Friday.

SHORT HOPS: The Blue Jays claimed Brad Mills off waivers from the Oakland Athletics, bringing the left-handed pitcher back to the team that drafted him.